Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-01-26
4 WOMAN And A BURGLAR.

The wind was whistling shrilly around
the corners of the house, sobbing and
signing through the evergreens in the yard.
and bowling dismally up among the CHM
ney-tops, as DIR. Baird, one winter evening,
turned up the collar of his overcoat, drew
on his gloves, and pulled his seal skin cap
down over his ears.
Mary, he said to Mrs. Baird, who sat by u
low table in front of the crate, reading a
newspaper by the light of "a shaded lamp.
Mrs. Murray is no better, and requires
constant attendance. DR.. Graves has been
with her all day, and I must relieve him to-
night. Her condition is quite serious, but
think she will pull through. However,
the crisis will hardly be reached before to-
morrow noon"
Mrs. Baird laid down the newspaper, and
sighed. Twenty years of welded happi-
ness had not fully reconciled her 10 the
conditions OF busy physicians life; and
she often longed for the time when her
husband could retire from the active prac-
tice OF his profession. But as DIR. Baird
was still what Is called young man, and
by no means as rich as he hoped to become,
Mrs. Baird had resigned herself to the
inevitable, and endured the discomfort of
irregular meals and broken sleep without
murmuring. So she merely looked up and
sighed as her husband made this announce
ment.
"Have you set the burglar alarms" she
asked.
-Yes, for all the lower floor except the
side door to the library. shall TAKE the
key to that door, SO that can come in
without disturbing you. shall try to get
back BY six in the morning. Good night. I"
And the Doctor took his way across the
grounds, toward the sanitarium.
The burglar alarm had been placed in
the house short time before, ut Mrs.
Baird's suggestion. man. servant had
formerly slept in the house. but he had
moved to room in the sanitarium; and in
view OF the Doctors frequent absence from
home. Mrs. Baird had persuaded him to
have burglar alarm put into the house.
The Doctor had laughed ct her fears, and
had to be reminded Of the burglar alarm. or
he frequently forgot to adjust it. She
would not touch 1t herself; il made her
nervous, she said,
The sanitarium was local institution, in
which the people Of the village Of Yelling
ton took great deal of pride. II was
owned by syndicate Of wealthy men, who
had selected the town on account Of its
healthy location, pastoral surroundings, and
fine scenery, as the site Of large hotel,
which. by virtue of these attractions, sup
piemented by competent medical staff
and judicious advertising, had become
quite popular health resort. DIR. Baird
was resident physician in chief OF the es-
adjustment, and with his family occupied
cottage on the opposite side of the extern
sive grounds, and several minutes walk
from the maiu building.
Mrs. Murray was one Of the nurses at
the sanitaTium, who had herself been taken
i'll. DR.. Baird entered the sick-room and
inquired Of DR.. Graves:
How is she now"
Sinking rapidly" was the reply. II do
not think she will live until morning."
A short consultation followed, and it was
decided that both doctors should remain by
the patients side until there was some
further change in her condition.
After the Doctor left, Mrs. Baird fin
lshed her newspaper and then looked over
the latest fashion, plates with her daughter
Mollie, q trim looking lass of sixteen sum-
mers, who was trying to solve the impor-
tant problem Of how to make new dress.
At O'Clock. with caution to Moliie about
the fire and lights, Mrs. Baird went up
stairs TO bed.
Mollie dawdled over her fashions little
while longer, and then sought her room,
which was small apartment on the lower
About midnight the burglar alarm went
of with great racket and woke Mrs. Baird
from a sound sleep.
She realized, Of course, that some one
was in the house. or attempting 10 gain en-
trance. Her second thought was for
Mollie's safety. Mollie was down stairs,
and her room one which burglar would
be most likely to enter in any search for
yaluables. Hastily opening drawer in
the chiffonier which stood in her bedroom,
Mrs. Baird took out revolver and glanced
at 1t by the light Of the night lamp to see
If it were loaded. Weapon in hand, she
went softly and swif ~ down the stairs, her
heart prey to a thousand apprehensions.
Every instant she expected to hear scream.
suppose Mollie should cry out, or resiet
the burglars? Suppose her youth and
beauty should tempt them to worse crime
than burglary AS she neared the foot of
the stairs she heard voices in the parlor!
Horror of horrors! the burglars were
really in the house! They must have
known beforehand that her husband was
away.
A few steps farther brought her to the
parlor door opening upon the hall into
which the staircase descended. 1t stood
partly open, and looking in she saw that
the folding doors which separated the par.
Tor from the sitting-room stood open, and
beyond OF the sitting she could see
the open door of Mollie's chamber.
But what riveted her attention and froze
her blood was the scene she saw in the par
Tor. Two men were standing in the mid
die OF the floor, and bending over q white
clad figure which they were laying on the
floor.
Was her daughter dead? Had she
tainted? Had she been chloroformed? Had
the fiends-she raised her revolver and fired
1t at the nearest man, and then her over.
wrought nerves gave way, and with wild
shrek she fell fainting to the floor.
When she recovered consciousness, il
was to see her husband bending over her,
with a yinaigrette in his hand, from which
he had been administering restorative.
"Mollie. Mollie. she gasped.
Here, mamma" and Atollie was at her
side, alive and we'll, and showing no sign
OF distress except concern for her mother.
When Mrs. Baird had recovered sufa-
ciently to listen. her husband explained to
her what had taken place. There had been
no burglary, and Mrs. Baird had made,
naturally enough, mistake that had nearly
proved fatal.
The two doctors had remained BY the
bedside OF the sick nurse until after mid
night, when she took sudden turn
for the worse and died few minutes
before O'Clock. The two Of them
bad wrapped her body in sheet
from the bed. and placing it on q
shutter, had brought it to DR.. Bairds house
TO be laid out. Funerals were never held
from the sanitariunl, and though some-
times patient died, the body was gem
orally taken away % soon % possible, be-
causs Of the depressing effect which the
presence Ct corpse IN The house would
hevs upon il inmates.
- 30 dsstefs hid hsosght ~ hedy